Women’s health, specifically maternal care, is a medical device sector that has seen significant growth in recent years. These devices have seen significant success in addressing demand for treatments for conditions such as postpartum hemorrhage and other complications relating to delivery. However, there are still several challenges associated with the sector, especially in the US. The US ranks worse than any other developed nation in cases of maternal mortality despite having access to the most advanced medical technology.

Toronto’s Medtech Conference 2024, held from 15 to 17 October, hosted a panel discussion with industry experts on the topic of maternal health and the challenges facing the industry in the US. These include a lack of access to caregivers across the country, even in major metropolitan areas such as Washington, DC; hospital closures; and low funding. Additionally, experts highlighted that America still suffers from low access to maternal health medical technologies that could improve health outcomes for mothers.

American women face obstacles to care such as low income, difficulty taking time off work, and location, all of which can impact their ability to access quality maternal care. Additionally, the US has a lower level of health awareness than other countries, especially regarding maternal health. All these factors have led to care being more reactive than proactive for mothers. The experts present at these panels agreed that maternal care should be significantly more patient-centered than it currently is.

GlobalData databases are tracking 399 products within the reproductive and maternal health sector that are currently available on the market. A further 43 are in various stages of development globally. This market is significantly smaller than other medical device markets, likely due to the factors listed above and the lack of interest from existing medical technology companies.

Maternal care is an incredibly important part of modern healthcare. Unfortunately, the US is lagging behind other developed countries in terms of the standard of care. Experts at the Medtech Conference have identified several problems with the existing options for care in the US and have suggested that focusing on the patient during maternal care could solve or improve many of these problems. If these changes are implemented, it is possible the US will see a significant decrease in maternal mortality and an improved standard of care for mothers.